Eighty years ago today, on 31 August 1946, professional football made its highly anticipated return to England following a seven-year hiatus caused by World War Two. The excitement for the sport's comeback was palpable, with an estimated one million fans passing through turnstiles nationwide on the opening day.
The 1946-47 season saw Liverpool clinch the league title for the fifth time, securing it by a single point on 31 May 1947. They overcame Manchester United and Wolves, who lost their final match against Liverpool at Molineux, needing only a draw to win the championship.
Notable results from the opening day included Wolves beating Arsenal 6-1, Chelsea defeating Bolton Wanderers 4-3 in front of 61,464 fans, and Preston North End winning at home against Leeds United. Manchester United, under new manager Matt Busby, played their home games at Maine Road due to bomb damage at Old Trafford.
The era was marked by ongoing hardship and rationing, with Manchester United even appealing for clothing coupons to provide players with kits. Sports journalist Brian Halford has chronicled this period in his new book, 'Kicking Off Again', which details all 43 Football League matches played on that historic day.